The Carolina Hurricanes' names have been engraved on the Stanley Cup, but owner Tom Dundon has sparked a whirlwind of controversy by prioritizing his family over team staff and players. Dundon had the names of his wife and five children etched onto the trophy, with the seven Dundon family members receiving top billing on the freshly engraved panel representing the 2025-26 league champions.
Fan backlash on social media
After the team shared an image of the latest names immortalized on Lord Stanley's mug, fans erupted on social media. One Hurricanes fan wrote on Reddit: "I was so excited to see the engraving but seeing Dundon's entire bloodline top billing makes it way less enjoyable." Another user commented: "He doesn't care about anyone but himself and his own family." A third user wrote that "7 Dundons before anyone from the team is a bad joke," while another added that it "completely devalues the effort of the staff and players."
Who was left off the Cup?
Among those omitted were team physicians, scouts, the announce team, and the communications department. Three minority owners were also excluded. One player that drew sympathy was Joel Nystrom, who played 38 games for the Hurricanes—just four short of the 42-game threshold required for automatic engraving. A social media user commented: "Maybe 1 less Dundon and he would have made it on." While the organization decides which staff members receive the honour, the 53 Hurricanes names etched onto the Cup did not include many key contributors.
Comparisons to other teams
One Reddit user noted that Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola also added his family members' names last year, but that inclusion was somewhat justified—four members of the Viola family serve as alternate governors and hold additional roles with the club. In contrast, the Dundon family's inclusion appears purely personal.
Dundon's other controversies
Dundon's ownership of the Portland Trail Blazers, which he and a group of investors bought for roughly US$4.2 billion less than a year ago, has also drawn criticism. He has earned the nickname "El Cheapo" for cost-cutting measures such as cancelling T-shirt giveaways and cutting one of the team's two mascots. He also cut ties with interim head coach Tiago Splitter after a surprising playoff appearance and hired Micah Nori at below-market rate, with a contract that includes just one guaranteed year.
